My flight for work travel to Tampa was canceled due to the hurricane barreling toward Florida. I'd like to cancel the entire itinerary without calling the 1K Desk, but the only options that have been offered through the non-phone channels (website, text message, mobile) is the option to rebook at a later date. Frankly, I don't trust that Tampa will be up and running by the next week I'm scheduled to travel there, so a rebooking could cost me yet another change fee. I'd rather cancel and get a refund to my original form of payment, then make a fresh booking when the coast is clear (literally and figuratively).

I could cancel the itinerary in the normal way, using united.com, but the cancellation confirmation page warns that I am canceling a non-refundable itinerary, and a change fee will apply. Does United hope I'll just rebook and let them have my $500++ on another itinerary? Do they really want me clogging up their phone lines? I'd rather call & sit on hold for an hour than lose even one dime on a cancellation that wasn't my fault.